Parolee slain trying to stop armed robbery

As a darkly dressed mugger brandished a handgun and demanded a young woman's purse on a rain-soaked street Monday night, the 55-year-old parolee with dozens of arrests and nine felony convictions -- including one for robbery -- yelled at the man to stop, Chicago police said.

Authorities said the gunman opened fire, striking Butler once in the abdomen, about 6 p.m. in the 2100 block of South Millard Avenue. The robber fled with woman's purse.

Butler was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about two hours later, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. An autopsy confirmed that the shot killed Butler, and his death was classified a homicide.

Police hadn't made any arrests in the slaying.

"He's a hero, regardless of his criminal record, regardless of what he did in the past," said Paul Rutherford, vice chairman of Cook County Crimestoppers. "He tried to prevent a robbery and gets shot. It's amazing. I'm glad that someone stepped up, and this is what the community needs," he said.

Crimestoppers and community activist Andrew Holmes each pledged $1,000 for anyone who provides information that leads to the gunman's arrest and conviction. Holmes said Tuesday he was warning riders about safety at a Pink Line station near where the mugging occurred.

At least five street robberies have taken place in the blocks around there since the start of the month, according to police records.

Rutherford, who happens to know the 26-year-old victim of the Monday night mugging, said the woman told him she recognized Butler from riding the same train with him earlier by coincidence. As the two got off the train, Butler wished the woman a happy Thanksgiving, Rutherford said.

According to Rutherford, the victim, who asked not to be identified, said she was grateful for Butler, calling him her guardian angel. But she remained emotionally distraught at his death.

"How can I be happy when my life was saved, when his life was taken?" Rutherford quoted her as saying.

Police said Butler was an admitted member of the Conservative Vice Lords street gang. According to court records, he had nine convictions for drug dealing, theft, robbery and armed violence since the early 1980s.